HIS late winner ensured Wales’ World Cup hopes weren’t reduced to a pipe dream, but Sam Vokes is expecting a return to bench duty in Russia as a reward.

SAM THE MAN: Wales' Sam Vokes scored a late winning goal against Azerbaijan

Not that you will hear the teenage Wolves striker grumble after riding to the rescue to save Wales from an opening-game embarrassment.

John Toshack’s young side were just seven minutes away from seeing their qualification dreams go up in smoke on day one, when substitute Vokes emerged as the saviour against 10-man Azerbaijan.

It may not have been the prettiest goal the 18-year-old striker will ever score, stabbing the ball home after a bit of penalty-box pinball, but there was little doubt it could prove one of the most important strikes of his career.

Vokes climbed off the ­treatment table following a groin problem and one big swing of a size-12 boot later saw him throw his country a lifeline.

“I’m not sure whether I will be playing in Russia on Wednesday and I could be back on the bench, but I’m just happy to be here and to make a contribution,” said Vokes.

“I was there to come on, and if in that situation, try and make an impact. I proved that and I can do that for the team. I’m just trying to take in ­everything that has happened.

“My life has changed hugely. I was at Bournemouth and then got my move to Wolves in the summer. To get my move to the senior side was even better and then to score is a dream come true. I just have to carry it on.”

With anything but a win sure to be judged as a failure for Toshack’s men, the stay-away fans at the Millennium Stadium seemed to have the right idea as Wales laboured. Azerbaijan, ranked 138th in the world, almost scored twice early on.

Denied several times by ­goalkeeper Kamran Agayev Wales were running out of ideas when they thought they had the breakthrough after Chris Gunter was tripped for a 66th-minute penalty.

But Jason Koumas saw his spot-kick and follow-up saved. And when Fabio Luis Ramim was dismissed for a second bookable offence, Wales finally made their pressure tell when Vokes scrambled Gareth Bale’s corner home.

Koumas, who had three painkilling injections to shake off an ankle problem, admitted Vokes had spared his blushes.

“I owe Sam one,” he said. “He reminds me a little bit of John Hartson in his younger days, and looks a good player.”

Koumas seems certain to be ruled out of Wednesday’s trip to Russia with a recurrence of his ankle injury.